Mets Game 139: Loss to Marlins

Marlins 9 Mets 3

The game started out ugly, and got uglier with each succeeding inning.

Mets Game Notes

For the first time this season, Chris Capuano failed to complete five innings. Considering that he pitched only 106 innings last year (between MLB and minors), and missed 2008 and 2009 due to Tommy John surgery, I’m going to go on a limb and guess that he’s exhausted after pitching over 160 innings this year. In the game recap after his last start I mentioned a breakdown in his mechanics, and I’m continuing to see the issue (losing balance toward 1B at the leg lift). The fact the Fish have seen him so often over the last few weeks can’t help, either. Capuano allowed 6 runs on 8 hits and a walk in four innings.

Meanwhile, the Mets could not do anything against Javier Vazquez, who allowed just one run in seven solid innings. It wasn’t until Chris Hatcher — who was a catcher this time last year — took the mound that the Mets offense showed a little life and had three extra-base hits, scoring two runs.

On the bright side, Jason Bay hit a bomb off Hatcher in the ninth; he also hit a single earlier in the game. Nick Evans had two hits, including a 9th-inning double. Ruben Tejada and Angel Pagan had two hits apiece.

Also on the bright side, little Danny Herrera threw a clean inning. He has yet to allow a baserunner while wearing the orange and blue. In contrast, Ryota Igarashi struck out three in his one inning of work, but also walked two in a 30-pitch inning. Iggy has not done anything to make me think he’s a MLB pitcher in a long, long time. Similarly, D.J. Carrasco consistently looks to me like a mop-up man, and he did nothing to change that opinion after seeing him pitch in this ballgame.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.

Its so exciting NOT to see the overpaid and over the hill front office and field general build for the future (NOT) by having 40 year old pitchers be the September call-ups along with career 4A first baseman Val Pascucci and in the instance where they bring up a kid like Satin its really great having the old and never any good Willie Harris bat for him so Satin doesn’t get any real experience. And then we have to listen to Cohen defend the lousy move endlessly because Harris “deserves the at bat”. There is no joy in Metville, now or in the future.

Amidst all the excitement you completely forgot to mention what a great job Terry Collins is doing in balancing opportunities for the youngins’ with WINNING. Because he’s teaching them to win. That’s what you do in the last 30 games of the season (not the first 130, when you’re just fooling around and tinkering with ideas).

Miguel Batista wasn’t a “September call-up.” He filled Niese’s spot in August. As to “exciting,” I put it aside, but yeah, I don’t mind watching someone with a pretty interesting life/long career pitch a pretty good game. I don’t know if he’s pitching tonight, but Collins left that open.

Darn if (again) the “never any good” (except when killing the Mets in the field) Harris produced, putting aside that sure, it would have been nice for Satin to have a shot there. Oh, as to call-ups, what about the two pitchers? Does counting that ruin your whining?

As to Collins overall, if the team given to him performed all year the way they did in April and August, it would not be a surprise. Instead, they over and over again played competitive baseball, including the much maligned bargain basement bullpen.